Re the story of the mess bill with the household cavalry. This happened to two aircrew chaps from Lossiemouth who were detached to London during the fireman's strike at the end of the 1970s. I understand that when they went to see the adjutant about the original mess bill, they were asked what their income was. When they told him what their salary was, the Adj then said - no, I know about that, but what is your income: he could not believe that an officer had no private means of support other than the hobby money paid monthly by the MOD.